Battle of Contreras

The Battle of Contreras (19-20 August 1847) was a major battle of the Mexican-American War that occurred on the outskirts of Mexico City, Mexico when the 10,738-strong American army under Winfield Scott defeated the 7,000-strong Mexican army of Gabriel Valencia. General Scott's army, consisting of the divisions of David E. Twiggs, William J. Worth, John A. Quitman, and Gideon Johnson Pillow, marched on the Mexican capital, defended by 30,000 troops under Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The armies met at Contreras when Robert E. Lee's engineers skirmished with Mexican pickets while trying to build a road near the Pedregal lava field. John B. Magruder and Jesse L. Reno brought in the American artillery to reinforce Lee's forces, and skirmishes occurred throughout 19 August. The next day, Scott ordered an attack on Valencia's army from two sides, and the Mexican army was routed after seventeen minutes of fighting. The Mexicans fell back towards Churubusco, where battle was joined soon after.